Trojans Garner American College Theatre Festival Nominations

April 23, 2026

Fresh off a spring performance of Macbeth, Dakota State University students Enoch Martin and Kaden Krusemark were both nominated for the Irene Ryan acting scholarship competition at the 2027 Region 5 American College Theatre Festival.

Martin, a cyber leadership and intelligence major, and Krusemark, a digital arts and design student specializing in computer graphics, performed as Macbeth and Macduff, respectively, in the March performance at the Dakota Prairie Playhouse. Both are invited to perform and compete at the 2027 festival, held next January in Rochester, Minnesota.

"Theatre really is a team sport, so to have so many of our players recognized for their wonderful work is truly a celebration of collaboration," said Kelly MacLeod, DSU instructor and director of DSU's theater program. "It took students both domestic and international, faculty, staff, community members, technological advancement, and honest, believable performances to receive so many acknowledgements. We are very proud of the things we accomplished during our, as Macbeth said, 'hour upon the stage.'"

In addition to the scholarship nominees, DSU earned several recognitions of merit in technical theatre and performance including:

• Marketing/Graphic/Poster Design: Ze "Juniper" Kerns (digital arts & design - computer graphics)
• Combat Choreography: Caiden Anderson (computer game design), Nick Roggenbuck (computer game design), and assorted cast members
• Set Design: Kelly MacLeod, Hunter Rebelein (digital arts and design - production animation), Taylor Bachtell (cyber operations), Jacob Roman (cyber operations), and Holly Davis (computer science)
• Costume Design: Ze "Juniper" Kerns
• Outstanding Ensemble: Onstage cast

Many of these students will be competing in their respective categories at the festival as well.

"This recognition speaks to the collaborative nature of DSU's theatre productions, where students from across disciplines - including cyber, design, computing, and game development - bring their skills together to create something impactful," said Stacey Berry, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

The American College Theater Festival (ACTF) is a national program engaging approximately 18,000 students each year from colleges and universities across the United States, advancing excellence and innovation in collegiate theater. Through performance recognition, skill development, and professional exposure, ACTF creates opportunities for emerging artists to refine their craft and contribute to a dynamic creative community. The program supports a wide range of theatrical work, from new and student-written plays to reimagined classics and experimental productions, strengthening both artistic quality and academic programs nationwide. Since its founding, ACTF has impacted more than 400,000 students and reached over 16 million audience members, underscoring its sustained role in elevating theater education and expanding the reach of university-based performance.

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